Wednesday, August 30, 2017

This bouquet was sitting on a table in the gardener's cottage at the Kylemore Abbey. There were formal gardens as well as smaller garden plots for cuttings and vegetables. The gardener's cottage no longer has anyone living there, but it is set up like a small museum of days gone by. This arrangement sat on a table across from a peat burning fire and mantle displaying old photos. Another great place to visit if you ever have the opportunity.

Monday, August 28, 2017

The Connemara Pony is a breed that originated in Ireland and known for it's versatility and good nature. We saw many that were white or shades of white and gray and they always looked wonderful surrounded by the lush green fields. The heather was just beginning to bloom and gave us a preview of the blue and red violet color that would soon be all around.

Thursday, August 24, 2017

This painting is from Scotland's lovely Cawdor Castle and surrounding gardens not too much of a drive from Inverness. This fairytale castle has all the features we come to think of from illustrations and movies..... corner spires, a drawbridge, moat and massive main structure. The gardens are fabulous as well and it's hard to pick a favorite view.... but this is certainly one of them.

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Another harbor scene from Ireland drew my eye for it's color and movement. I had fun with thicker paint on this one though it doesn't show too well in this photo. A transparent coral color helped liven up all the blues so that they don't read too cool.

Saturday, August 12, 2017

A croft is a small farm in Ireland or Scotland. We saw many small farms dotting the countrysides and always surrounded by rolling fields of green. We must have seen every possible shade of green under blue and gray skies that changed by the hour. The brightly painted doorways were one of my favorite sights too.

Sunday, August 6, 2017

This is one of the towers at Cahir Castle in county Tipperary. We visited many castles and beautiful views reminding us of the very real history behind the illustrated books and movies that they've inspired over the years. I knew this would be a painting on seeing it.

Wednesday, August 2, 2017

Summer is slipping away and this is the first painting I've done from our travels in Ireland. There is beauty everywhere, but the blocks of color in the oceanside town of Galway.caught my eye. We lucked out with the weather and sunny days were on order nearly every day. We had showers, but they were brief and refreshing for the most part. All the towns had bright color that vied for our attention while the landscapes were saturated with every variety of green possible.